Structural Health Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance: Advanced IoT-based Solutions for a New Era in Structural Engineering

This paper explores the transformative potential of digitalization in structural engineering through the adoption of predictive monitoring technologies. It presents an innovative IoT-based system integrating smart bolts equipped with ultrasonic and inertial sensors to continuously measure clamping force, vibration response, and inclination in steel joints. Data collected from distributed sensors are transmitted via advanced communication protocols to a cloud platform, where Machine Learning algorithms perform anomaly detection and trend forecasting. Two case studies validate the system’s performance: (1) its support in the development of the FREEDAM technology at the University of Salerno, monitoring resilient bolted joints for seismic applications; and (2) the structural health monitoring of a large warehouse roof, where stress redistribution was detected in real-time during testing and commissioning. The study demonstrates how IoT, AI, and data-driven predictive analytics can enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the lifecycle management of steel and composite structures.